Window and venetian-blind assemblies for regulating light travel

ABSTRACT

An assembly for regulating the travel of light. The assembly includes a pair of transparent sheets which are mutually spaced and parallel to each other, these sheets being interconnected by a peripheral frame which defines with the sheets a hollow enclosure sealed off from the outer atmosphere. Within this enclosure is located a plurality of parallel Venetian-blind slats. A tilting mechanism is also located within the enclosure and operatively connected with the slats for tilting the latter. This tilting mechanism is operated from the exterior of the enclosure, which is maintained sealed from the outer atmosphere, so that in this way the travel of light through the transparent sheets can be regulated.

United States Patent Requena [151 3,685,205 [4 1 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] WINDOW AND VENETIAN-BLIND ASSEMBLIES FOR REGULATING LIGHT TRAVEL [72] Inventor: Jorge Federico Requena, Rua Raul Pompera No. 131, ap. S06, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 211 App]. No.: 89,591

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 12, 1969 Brazil ..T.2l5,077

[52] US. Cl ..49/64, 49/85 [51] Int. Cl. ..E06b 7/08 [58] Field of Search 49/85, 82, 84, 87, 88, 74, 49/64; 160/107 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,201,832 8/1965 Hordis et al. ..49/64 2,490,295 12/1949 Fisher ..49/64 5 Ja L\.

E 1 a 2 a Q 421,047 2/ l 890 Hantsche, Jr ..49/ 84 2,019,378 10/1935 Allen ..49/88 X 2,742,681 4/1956 Goodwyn ..49/85 X Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Steinberg & Blake [5 ABSTRACT An assembly for regulating the travel of light The assembly includes a pair of transparent sheets which are mutually spaced and parallel to each other, these sheets being interconnected by a peripheral frame which defines with the sheets a hollow enclosure sealed off from the outer atmosphere. Within this enclosure is located a plurality of parallel Venetian-blind slats. A tilting mechanism is also located within the enclosure and operatively connected with the slats for tilting the latter. This tilting mechanism is operated from the exterior of the enclosure, which is maintained sealed from the outer atmosphere, so that in this way the travel of light through the transparent sheets can be regulated.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures WINDOW AND VENETIAN-BLIND ASSEMBLIES FOR REGULATING LIGHT TRAVEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to assemblies for regulating the travel of light.

In particular, the present invention relates to assemblies composed of a window and a Venetian-blind for regulating the travel of light through the window.

Assemblies of this general type are of course well known. Where the Venetian-blind is freely accessible, there is of course no particular problem involved in adjusting the blind so as to control the travel of light through the window.

However, there are known windows composed of a pair of transparent sheets defining between themselves a space which is sealed off from the outer atmosphere and evacuated as well as maintained dry so as to avoid condensation between the sheets and to provide a better seal against the outer atmosphere as well as to cut down on noise.

In order to control the travel of light through windows of this latter type, it is highly desirable to situate a Venetian-blind directly in the space between the transparent sheets, which may be made of glass, for example. However in this case there is a problem of adjusting the slats of the Venetian-blind since with such an arrangement the Venetian-blind is not freely accessible.

Thus, with arrangements of this type there is the problem of actuating the Venetian-blind adjusting structure from the exterior of the window in such a way as to have the capability of tilting the slats for controlling the travel of light while at the same time maintaining the enclosure between the transparent window sheets sealed from the outer atmosphere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a construction of the above general type which will solve the problem of providing an effective control for a Venetian-blind which is housed between a pair of transparent sheets of window glass or the like in an enclosure which is maintained sealed from the outer atmosphere while still permitting regulation of the venetian-blind from the exterior of the enclosure.

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide a light-regulating assembly of this type which can be effectively controlled from the exterior of the enclosure so as to adjust the Venetian-blind slats in order to promote the comfort of individuals within a room provided with an assembly of this type as well as to preserve furniture or equipment which might be un-' desirably affected by the rays of light penetrating through the window.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of this general type capable of greatly reducing the possibility of transmission of sound such as external or internal noise through the assembly.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of an exceedingly simple and rugged assembly of components capable of operating reliably to achieve the desired results in the best possible way.

According to the invention the light regulating as sembly includes a pair of mutually spaced substantially parallel transparent sheets and a peripheral frame means extending peripherally along and connected to the sheets while defining therewith an enclosure which is sealed off from the outer atmosphere. A plurality of parallel Venetian-blind slats are located within the enclosure between the sheets, and a tilting means also located within the enclosure between the sheets is operatively connected to the slats for tilting the latter for regulating the transmission of light through the transparent sheets. An operating means is operatively connected to the-tilting means and extends to the exterior of the enclosure for operating the tilting means from the exterior of the enclosure, this operating means maintaining the enclosure sealed from the outer atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of a light regulating assembly according to the invention, FIG. 1 showing only that much of the structure which is required for a full understanding of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of a Venetian-blind slat and a pair of strips of the invention which are associated therewith for providing the tilting thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, there is fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 1 a window made up of a pair of transparent sheets 8 and 8a which may be sheets of glass, for example. These transparent sheets 8 and 8a are in spaced, parallel relation, and a peripheral frame means 10 extends peripherally along and is connected with the sheets 8 and 8a so as to define with the latter a hollow enclosure 12 which is sealed off from the outer atmosphere. This hollow enclosure 12 may have its interior at least partially evacuated, and in addition it is dehydrated so that there will be no internal moisture condensation during cold weather. If desired hygroscopic material may be situated within the enclosure 12 to maintain the moisture content thereof at a minimum.

Situated in the enclosure 12 are a plurality of elongated parallel Venetial-blind slats 4. Thus these slats 4 extend between the sheets 8 and 8a in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

A tilting means is provided also in the enclosure 12 for tilting the slats 4 in unison so as to regulate the travel of light through the sheets 8 and 8a. This tilting means includes an elongated tilting strip 1 which extends perpendicularly with respect to the slats 4 and is operatively connected therewith in a manner described in greater detail below for bringing about the tilting of e the slats 4 in response to longitudinal movement of the An operating means includes a rotary shaft 14 Sup ported at its ends for rotary movement in suitable bearings carried by vertical portions of the peripheral frame means 10, these bearings providing a fluid-tight seal at the ends of the rotary shaft 14, so that the enclosure 12 is maintained sealed from the outer atmosphere.

The operating means further includes a transmission 7a, 7b which is a worm-and-wormgear transmission. Thus this transmission includes the gear 7a which is fixed to the rotary shaft 14 and the worm 7b which meshes with the gear 7a. The worm 7b is fixed to a shaft 16 which extends perpendicularly from the worm 7b toward the sheet 8a.

An operating member 18 is operatively connected with the shaft 16 for rotating the latter so as to actuate the tilting means. In the illustrated example the shaft 16 extends fluid-tightly through a bearing 20 carried by the sheet 8a, so that the enclosure 12 is still sealed from the outer atmosphere by the bearing 20. The shaft 16 extends through the sheet 8a to the exterior of the enclosure 12 where a hand wheel 18 is fixed to the shaft 16.

As is particularly apparent from FIG. 2, each slat 4 has a pair of mutually spaced portions 40 and 4b defining between themselves a gap 22 which extends transversely across each slat between the portions 4a and 4b thereof. A pair of pins 3 and 3a extend across the gap 22 and is permanently connected with the remainder of each slat 4, in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 2, so that these pins 3 and 3a serve to interconnect the portions 40 and 4b of each slat.

The tilting strip 1 is formed with a plurality of notches 2 extending inwardly from that edge of the strip 1 which is directed toward the strip la. The strip la is formed with a plurality of notches 2a which extend inwardly from that edge of the strip 1a which is directed toward the strip 1. These edges 24 and 24a of the strips 1 and la are located directly next to each other in the assembled structure, while the outer edges 26 and 26a of the strips 1 and 1a are located directly next to the inner surfaces of the transparent, clear glass sheets 8 and 8a.

The pair of strips 1 and 1a are received in the gap 22 of each slat 4 and the pins 3 of the slats 4 are respectively received in the notches 2 while the pins 3a are respectively received in the notches 2a. The coaction of the parts is such that during longitudinal movement of the strip 1 the slats can tilt about axes coinciding with the axes of the pins 3a, the latter forming with the strip la the support means supporting the slats for pivotal movement about the tilt axes which coincide with the axes of the pins 3a. However, it has been found to be of advantage to provide also for longitudinal movement of the strip 1a so that in the actual construction there is a longitudinal displacement of the strips 1 and la with swinging or tilting of the slats at the pins 3 and 3a.

For this purpose the operating means includes at the edges 24 and 24a of the strips 1 and la, at regions of these edges which extend beyond the slats 4, rack teeth 6 forming the rack for the strip 1 and rack 5a for the strip la. The pinion 28 of the operating means, which is fixed to the rotary shaft 14, meshes with both of the racks, so that in response to rotary movement of the shaft 14 the strips 1 and 1a will be longitudinally moved simultaneously through equal distances but in opposite directions. Thus, one of the strips 1 and la may be considered as a support means coacting with the pins 3 or 3a to support the slats for tilting movement while the other of the strips 1 or 1a may be considered as a tilting strip to bring about tilting of the slats in response to longitudinal movement of the strip. The strips 1 and la function equally, although in opposite directions, as pivotal supports and as tilting strips.

Of course, the structure shown in FIG. 1 at the right region of the fragmentarily illustrated window is repeated at the left region thereof so that each slat 4 is actually provided with a pair of gaps 22 and with a pair of pins 3 as well as a pair of pins 30, there being at the unillustrated portion of the window a second pair of strips 1 and la coacting with the unillustrated pins in precisely the manner shown in FIG. 1. In this way the slats are supported at the region of their opposite ends by the pairs of strips 1 and 1a, and at the opposite end of the shaft 14 which is not illustrated in FIG. 1 there is a second pinion 28 meshing also with a pair of racks 5 and 5a.

Although the shaft 14 and its associated structure is shown in FIG. 1 beneath the lowermost slat 4, this structure could also be located above the uppermost slat, if considered convenient.

With the illustrated arrangement the entire structure .within the enclosure 12 is self sustaining. In other words the slats 4 and the strips 1 and la form an interconnected network held between the sheets 8 and 8a and operatively connected with the pinions 28 in such a way that the structure will be self sustaining and will have its components maintained with respect to each other in the relationship shown in FIG. 1 without any further supporting structure.

Although in the illustrated example there is a direct connection between the operating member 18 and the shaft 16 because the latter passes fluid-tightly through the bearing 20, such a direct connection is not essential. For example the outside operating member at the exterior of the enclosure 12 may include a rotary permanent magnet at the outer surface of the sheet 8a aligned with a second magnet at the inner surface of the sheet 8a and fixed to the shaft 16 so that when the outer magnet is turned the inner magnet will follow the outer magnet and thus bring about the required regulation of the slats 4.

Moreover, a manually operable operating member 18 is not essential. For example it is possible to provide a suitable photoelectric or thermostatic device responding to the light or temperature for automatically turning the shaft 16 so as to provide an automatic adjustment of the slats 4. In this way the travel of the light can be automatically regulated in accordance with the intensity of the light rays.

Furthermore, although reference has been made above to pairs of strips 1 and la situated adjacent the end regions of the slats 4, where the slats are of substantial length it is possible to situate a third pair or even a fourth pair of strips 1 and 1a at intermediate locations along the slats 4 so as to provide for proper support and tilting thereof, with each pair of strips having a pair of racks 5 and 5a directed toward each other and meshing with a common pinion as described above.

Although the peripheral frame means is shown as taking the form of elongated channels of U-shaped cross section fluid-tightly interconnected with each other and with the clear glass sheets 8 and 8a to define the enclosure 12, it is of course possible to use a frame means 10 made up of elongated elements of a different configuration in cross section.

The use of a certain amount of hygroscopic material in the interior of the enclosure 12 will reliably prevent any possible leaking of condensate.

It is to be noted that the structure described above eliminates all requirement for cords, tapes, bars, and the like as conventionally used in conventional Venetian-blinds. Also, the structure described above has many different uses. It need not only be used in a window of a room of a building. It can be used in windows of motor vehicles, airplanes, vessels, buses, or any type of transporting vehicle, as well as in a building of any type.

The seals used between the components of the enclosure 12 as well as at rotary components such-as the shaft 14 and shaft 16 may be seals of the type commonly encountered in refrigeration equipment.

The slats 4 as well as the strips 1 and la may be made of any suitable metal, plastic, or synthetic materials.

It is also possible to provide an automatic control from a suitable clock which brings about movement, with the passage of time, of a pneumatic plunger, for example, connected as through a rack and pinion transmission, for example, or through a crank and connecting rod, for example, to the rotary shaft 16 for rotating the latter to bring about automatically a given inclination of the slats 4 in accordance with the particular time of day. Thus in certain climates or in certain times of year it may be possible to automatically reduce the access of the rays of the sun to the interior of a given space, thus cutting down .on the energy required for operating air conditioning equipment or the like, while maintaining the highest level of human comfort and the greatest possible protection for furniture or other articles against deterioration by impingement of the rays of the sun on such articles.

In connection with the use of the device in the window of a vehicle, such as at the rear window of an automotive vehicle, it is possible to provide a remote control where at the dash of the vehicle the operator has accessible a suitable control which can be manipulated for bringing about a selected angular position for the slats 4 at the rear window of the vehicle. Thus it is possible to provide a dial at the dash which in accordance with the angular position to which it is turned by the operator of the vehicle will transmit an electrical signal to a structure which responds electrically to rotate the shaft 16 to the proper angle for bringing about the desired tilting of the slats 4.

The above are examples of the wide variety of specific uses which may be made of the structure of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an assembly for regulating the travel of light, a pair of transparent sheets situated in mutually spaced, substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other, peripheral frame means extending peripherally along and connected with said sheets for defining with the latter an enclosure sealed off from the outer atmosphere, a plurality of elongated, substantially parallel Venetian-blind slats located in said enclosure, tilting means also located in said enclosure and operatively connected with said slats for tilting the latter to regulate the travel of light through said transparent sheets, and operating means situated at the exterior of said enclosure and operatively connected with said tilting means for actuating the latter to tilt said slats, said operating means maintaining said enclosure sealed from the outer atmosphere, said tilting means including a plurality of pivots respectively connected operatively with said slats for supporting the latter for tilting movement respectively about tilting axes respectively extending along said slats longitudinally thereof, and an elongated tilting strip extending perpendicularly across said slats and operatively connected thereto for tilting said slats in unison respectively about said axes in response to longitudinal movement of said tilting strip, said operating means being operatively connected with said tilting strip for displacing the latter longitudinally in said enclosure in a direction perpendicular to said slats, said operating means including an elongated rotary shaft parallel to said slats and situated within said enclosure, a rack fixed with said tilting strip, a pinion fixed to said rotary shaft and meshing with said rack, and a transmission extending from the exterior of said enclosure to the interior thereof and operatively connected with said rotary shaft for rotating the latter, said slats being each provided with a pair of spaced portions defining between themselves a gap extending transversely across said slat and each slat having a pair of pins extending across said gap parallel to each other and interconnecting said spaced portions of each slat, said gaps of said slats being aligned and said tilting strip extending into said gaps of said slats and being formed with notches respectively receiving one of the pins of said slats, the other of the pins of said slats forming the pivots so that in response to longitudinal movement of said tilting strip said slats will tilt.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a second strip substantially identical with said tilting strip extends parallel to the latter and is situated at the opposite side of said slats in the gaps thereof with said second strip being formed with notches respectively receiving said other pins of said slats, said second strip formingwith said other pins the pivots for said slats.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein both of said strips are formed at edge portions which are directed toward each other and situated beyond said slats with rack teeth extending parallel to each other and directed toward and spaced from each other, said rotary shaft of said operating means having said pinion thereof meshing with the rack teeth of both strips, so that in response to rotary movement of said shaft said strips move equally and oppositely in longitudinal directions transversely of said slats for tilting the latter, so that each strip functions to tilt the slats and to form tilting axes therefor.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said strips respectively have outer longitudinal edges located next to inner surfaces of said sheets to form with said slats and through the connection with said pinion of said rotary shaft a self-sustaining adjustable assembly for supporting and tilting said slats.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said operating means includes an elongated wormgear fixed to said rotary shaft, a worm meshing with said wormgear, and a drive shaft operatively connected with said worm and extending therefrom perpendicularly with 5 respect to said sheets. 

1. In an assembly for regulating the travel of light, a pair of transparent sheets situated in mutually spaced, substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other, peripheral frame means extending peripherally along and connected with said sheets for defining with the latter an enclosure sealed off from the outer atmosphere, a plurality of elongated, substantially parallel Venetian-blind slats located in said enclosure, tilting means also located in said enclosure and operatively connected with said slats for tilting the latter to regulate the travel of light through said transparent sheets, and operating means situated at the exterior of said enclosure and operatively connected with said tilting means for actuating the latter to tilt said slats, said operating means maintaining said enclosure sealed from the outer atmosphere, said tilting means including a plurality of pivots respectively connected operatively with said slats for supporting the latter for tilting movement respectively about tilting axes respectively extending along said slats longitudinally thereof, and an elongated tilting strip extending perpendicularly across said slats and operatively connected thereto for tilting said slats in unison respectively about said axes in response to longitudinal movement of said tilting strip, said operating means being operatively connected with said tilting strip for displacing the latter longitudinally in said enclosure in a direction perpendicular to said slats, said operating means including an elongated rotary shaft parallel to said slats and situated within said enclosure, a rack fixed with said tilting strip, a pinion fixed to said rotary shaft and meshing with said rack, and a transmission extending from the exterior of said enclosure to the interior thereof and operatively connected with said rotary shaft for rotating the latter, said slats being each provided with a pair of spaced portions defining between themselves a gap extending transversely across said slat and each slat having a pair of pins extending across said gap parallel to each other and interconnecting said spaced portions of each slat, said gaps of said slats being aligned and said tilting strip extending into said gaps of said slats and being formed with notches respectively receiving one of the pins of said slats, the other of the pins of said slats forming the pivots so that in response to longitudinal movement of said tilting strip said slats will tilt.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a second strip substantially identical with said tilting strip extends parallel to the latter and is situated at the opposite side of said slats in the gaps thereof with said second strip being formed with notches respectively receiving said other pins of said slats, said second strip forming with said other pins the pivots for said slats.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein both of said strips are formed at edge portions which are directed toward each other and situated beyond said slats with rack teeth extending parallel to each other and directed toward and spaced from each other, said rotary shaft of said operating means having said pinion thereof meshing with the rack teeth of both strips, so that in response to rotary movement of said shaft said strips move equally and oppositely in longitudinal directions transversely of said slats for tilting the latter, so that each strip functions to tilt the slats and to form tilting axes therefor.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said strips respectively have outer longitudinal edges located next to inner surfaces of said sheets to form with said slats and through the connection with said pinion of said rotary shaft a self-sustaining adjustable assembly for supporting and tilting said slats.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said operating means includes an elongated wormgear fixed to said rotary shaft, a worm meshing with said wormgear, and a drive shaft operatively connected with said worm and extending therefrom perpendicularly with respect to said sheets. 